Rufus and Martha Wainwright's mother Kate McGarrigle has died of cancer aged 63.

The folk singer passed away yesterday in her native Montreal surrounded by her friends and family after losing her battle with clear cell sarcoma.

Kate formed The McGarrigle Sisters with her sibling Anna in the late sixties and they went on to release ten albums together, the most recent being 2005's 'The McGarrigle Christmas Hour'.

She was married for a number of years to folk star Loudon Wainwright III with whom she had Martha and Rufus in 1976 and 1973 respectively.

In 1993 she was made a Member of the Order of Canada along with her sister Anna.

(by Scott Colothan)